Glass mosaic bead

Unknown

1st century CE · Glass · Greek and Roman Art

Translucent deep blue ground, appearing black; decoration in opaque white and red. Spherical; vertical hole with slightly recessed edge on one side and slightly protruding edge on the other. Pattern of dots, each comprising a central spot in red surrounded by circles in white and red, arranged in irregular horizontal rows; blue ground flecked with white, appearing as random leafy sprays, stars, and stripes; some distortion of dots near edges of hole, and one area on side where the pattern overlaps. Complete, except for small chips on one side; patches of creamy weathering, and weathering inside hole.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1st century CE

Medium

Glass

Culture

Roman, Egyptian, Alexandrian

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Gift of Dr. Eugen Grabscheid, 1982